This is sort of a meme that came to mind in response to chapter 9 of Rotten Reflections. I wholeheartedly recommend this fanfic to everyone who loves turtles 2012, Rise and likes to feel TOO MUCH while reading.
Taken during a break on SHRINE pt2, don't worry, it's in production ;P
It hurt, freakin shell it hurt. It felt like fire in his veins. Hot and searing. But that was nothing compared to his eyes. They pulsed and throbbed. Even closed the light was too bright. Scorching his retinas. Dry and hot, stressed and spasming behind eyelids. The pain spread from there, giving him a headache in his temples. It was agony to move, to even breathe. Bit it still hurt regardless of movement. Then the pain increased tenfold. Body changing in unnatural ways. His jaw lengthened, teeth growing longer, sharper. A tail sprouted growing further, slamming the ground behind him. Limbs thickening, growing. Claws sharpened, lengthened. He felt the crack of his shell as it changed shape. Bones crackling as they grew beyond what they ever should have been. The pain washed over him in one final unbearable wave. Then fizzled out, leaving tingling numbness as his brain attempted to comprehend the amount of pain he was in as well as his body's new changes.
It was only because of the new blooming pain in his chest that he remembered to breathe. Lying on the far too cold floor. (Oh, who was he kidding? The floor wasn't that cold it was him that was that hot) He contemplated how absolutely horrendous his family's luck was. One of them accidentally getting double mutated once had been an ordeal. Of course years alter someone else got double mutated, and of course it was him. Couldn't have it any other way. At least he felt he still had his mind, that was something. Although he wished it would stop sending pain signals. Or accepting them for that matter. The pain slowly faded away simply leaving him exhausted. Limbs weighed down, he laid there.
'Body feels heavy like lead or stone. I'll just not move for awhile.'
And do that he did. Not until crying reached his ears did he bother to open his eyes. Trying to pinpoint the source. Around the corner. Drat, he'd have to get up and move to find out who was crying. Pulling his legs under him, he fought gravity and exhaustion. Coming to a stand he swayed dangerously. Like a dead tree in the raging wind. Centering himself, he slowly plodded forward. Each foot slightly dragging and thumping to the ground like a steady drum. Tail dragging behind. Turning the corner, his blurry vision attempted to focus enough to see the source of crying. He found it.
Two small children held each other, crying out into the air. The larger of the two had a spiky shell and tail, not unlike his new additions. Red was painted on him and for a moment he was worried about it being blood before realizing it was natural markings. The smaller of the pair looked up at him with liquid eyes, gold patches and freckles decorating him.
Both whimpered when he stepped closer, a strange large form covered in blood was too intimidating for their already scared minds.
He crouched making himself as small as possible.
"Hey, it's alright" his voice was deeper, gravely. Scratchy from the screaming he had done. But it seemed to soothe the duo.
"It's okay, promise. I'm not gonna hurt you. Y'think you guys might wanna come with me? I know where there's food and warmth. You'll be safe."
Slowly extending a hand out for them to take, his breath hitched when they didn't run and rubbed again his palm like cats; after they had sniffed it for possible danger, of course. Slowly, so very slowly, he gathered them into his arms. Tucking them into the crook of one, he held them close to his chest. They snuggled close, seeking the comfort of his warm plastron. He found that it was easier to walk on all fours (well, three as one arm was full) than two feet. Plodding forward, tail dragging through the dirt; he navigated his way home through the growing fog in his head.
'Shouldn't be this tired, mutating must taken more out of me than I thought.'
And suddenly he wasn't moving forward. No matter how hard he willed his limbs to keep going. The last of his energy reserves had been spent, vision clouding with black. His body began to shut down to save the energy he needed to stay alive. He slid to the ground, miraculously laying on his empty arm instead of squishing the kids. The world moved in slow motion, everything underwater. He did not hear the concerned peeps nor the searching voices calling his name.
Leon pulls out a rolled-up piece of paper and kneels down, spreading the paper in between them. Leonardo joined him on the ground as the slider pointed to the carefully laid-out plan drawn in crayon over the map of New York. He points at the drawings of their family in their respective colors, with Casey's white, and April's green.
"We have snap-bracelets, the Mikeys have glitter bombs, the Donnies have paintball guns, the Raphs have silly strings, the Aprils have slime balls, and the Caseys have stickers," he laid out. "We have one hour until midnight. Everyone starts in one corner of the city and we'll head toward Town Square. The aim is to pelt others with our stuff and whoever covers more, wins!"
"We are going to make such a mess," Leonardo chuckles, half exasperated and half excited.
Leon snickers. "You know it."
He checks the time on his wrist device. "Five minutes till it's time."
Leon reaches into his bag and hands Leonardo a pair of goggles like the ones used for diving. The terrapin takes it and puts it around his head while Leon wears his. Eye protection is important, especially when dealing with dirty stuff.
"Rules are simple," Leon explains as he hands Leonardo the stuff he brought. "Anything goes but no bodily harm, so no blinding, nerve pinches, or anything that is above a bruise. No knocking out the competitors. No cleaning off the evidence. Only aim for the other competitors and keep collateral damage to a minimum. No refills, what you bring is what you get. Mystic powers are banned. The winner gets to shoot the fireworks this year with their colors."
"We never do stuff like this," Leonardo commented as he tightened the straps of his belt across his hips.
"Well, now you do," Leon smiles while putting on a chest strap with rows of pockets.
When the two turtles are done, they look over each other and their outfits. Both of them have chest straps across their plastron, with rows of pockets, a utility belt across their hips, straps with pockets on their thighs, and a cropped blue jacket above it, also containing pokpocketsets. A pair of goggles with built-in headphones- courtesy of Donnie- protected their eyes and ears from being hit with any stray attacks.
Leon checks the time. "Almost time to go. When we see the flare in the sky, we run."
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A little sneak peek for Arcadia. A fun chapter to mark the start of the New Year! Arcadia will be out on 1st January 2023
A crossover au between rottmnt and 03. Focusing more on 03 Mikey, who has been double mutated. Leaning toward fluffy and silly interactions between Spikey Mikey and everyone else.
It's a story about the 2012 tmnt turtles being sent to Rise as babies. Rise takes care of them and its all cute and fun!! But!! When the 2012 boys turn 15 they will start to remember their past lives as the 2012 turtles!
I can't wait for more of this fic! It's a great concept and I am in love with it already! Show it some love!
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